Crate or coop.



PATBNTED MAR. 13, 1906.

E. SPERLING, CRATE OR 000?. Arrmoumn II'LED JULY 20.1905. I

2 sums-simm- 1.

. a e ZZZ No. 814,882. PATENTBD MAR. 13, 1906.

- E. SBERLING.

CRATE 0R COOP.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i [I l Wfifzewem .fizvezziar UN T v sTAT s ELLSWORTH SPERLING,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF onevmw, TEXAS.

' CRATE OR COOP? No.- s 14,ss2.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March. 13,1906. 7

- Applicati fil d J1i1y23,1905. Seria1No.2 71.693.

T at whom it may concern.-

- Be it known that I, ELLSWORTH SPERLING,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Longview, in the county ofGregg and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements inCrates or Coops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a folding crate or coop for shipping orstoring vegetables, fruits, poultry, and the'like; and the primaryobject of the same is to produce a crate which will combine simplicityand cheapness of construction with efiiciency and durability in use andcapable of being reduced to minimum dimensions when folded or collapsedand quickly set up when adapted for use.

A further object of the invention is to produce a crate or coop whereinthe use of expensive hardware and material is dispensed with and theoperation of assembling the several parts facilitated by the employmentof fastening means of the most simple character frames, a removablebottom and ends, and a detachable cover or top which operates to.

hold the ends in. place.

In one form of the improved crate or coop both ends are stationary, andeither the removable or the stationary ends may be used crate as shownby Fig. 1.

to form air-tight or ventilating ends, as may be desired. i

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate embodying thefeatures of the invention and shown arranged for use. Fig.

. 2 is an edge elevation of the body of the crate shown fully collapsedor folded. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the Fig. 4is a transverse vertical section through the crate illustrated byFig. 1.Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal vertical section ofthe crate arrangedfor use and embodying fixed or stationary ends.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several views.

The numerals 1 and 2 designate upper and lower side rails, to Which aresecured slatted vmade up panels, consisting in each instance of a seriesof longitudinally-disposed slats 3, nailed at their opposite extremitiesto strips 4, which provide corner-posts in a manner which will be morefull hereinafter explained. The slats 3 have t eir ends flush with theouter edges of the strips 4 and are applied to the outer sides ofthelatter. Extending vertically over the outer sides of the slats 3 aresecuring-strips 5, nailed to each slat and also similarly secured attheir up er and lowerterminals to the rails 1 and 2, t e upper and lowerends of the securing-strips being also flush 'with the upper and lowersides of the rails 1 and 2, respectively. The distance between theopposing sides of the railsl and .2 is greater than the length of thestrips 4,

and interposed between the ends of the latter and the adjacent sides ofthe rails 1 and 2 are the opposite terminals of upper and lowerhinge-strips 6, which are connected tothe rails 1 and 2 and strips 4 byelongated fastenings 7, driven through reverse sides of the rails andthe hinge-strips into opposite extremities of the strips 4 to providepivot or hinge connecting means for the said strips 6.

.By only partially penetrating the strips or posts 4 the strength anddurability of the latter parts are not impaired and less expense 8 5 andlabor are involved in assembling the main frame of the crate or coop.The side panels embodying the longitudinal slats 3 and securing-strips 5may be. first assembled in relation to the strips 4' and afterwardapplied to the rails 1 and 2, thus leaving the requisite spaces toreceive the terminals of the hinge-strips 6.

The rails '1 and 2 are projected interiorly of the body to serve assupporting means, and the strips or posts 4 and the hinge-strips 6 arealso adapted to be used as supporting means particularly in onestructure of the crate or' coop.

-The crate or coop also includes in 1ts organization a removable slattedbottom 8,

nected which are nailed to the longitudinal slats. In the form of thecrate or coop shown by Figs.

1, 3,.and 4 the removable slatted bottom 9 is.

of less length than the distance between the inner opposing edges of thelower hinge-strips 6 to permit the lower edges of removable ends 10 torest in part on the upper surfaces of the lower rails 2, the said endsbeing first inserted in position in arranging the crate or coop for of aseries of longitudinal slats cony end and intermediate cross-slats 9,

.use and the bottom 8 afterward appli'ed to 7 ing the opposite ends ofthe bottom abut against the lower inner portions of the said ends 10.The removable ends 10 are of greater width than the distance between theinner opposing edges of the rails 1 and 2, and said ends are turned at aproper angle when applied to the interior of the crate or box toproperly dispose them under the upper rails 1.

A removable cover or top 11 is inserted be tween the inner opposingedges of the upper rails 1, said cover being preferably imperforate andhas a central cleat 12, secured by nails a ainst the under side thereof,and also similar -secured cleats 13, adjacent to opposite ends of thecover or top to permit the opposite extremities of the latter to overlapthe upper surfaces of the upper hinge-strips 6 and the outer edges ofthe cleats 13 to bear closely against the upper extremities of theremovable ends 10. The cleats 12 and 13 have one end of each flush withone side edge of the top or cover 11, and the opposite efids thereofprojected outwardly beyond the remaining side edge of the said top orcover to fit under one of the top rails 1 to hold the said top or coverdown in place, andin addition fastenings may be used for securing theopposite ends of the top or cover to the upper hinged strips, ifdesired.

In separating the parts of the crate or coop embodying the removableends 10 the top or cover 11 is first withdrawn or detached, the bottom 8next removed, and the ends 10 are then turned at a proper angle anddrawn upwardly through the body, thus leaving the latter-free forfolding operations. When the body is free of the top or cover, bottom,and removable ends, it may be reduced or collapsed, as shown by Fig. 2,and the remaining parts applied and secured thereto or held intacttherewith for convenience in reshipping to a consignor or when a numberof the crates or coops are transported in bulk. The removable ends andthe top or cover may in some instances be also of slatted-formation, orinstead of slats wire-netting might be substituted, as in well-knownpoultry-coop constructions.

Theform of the crate or coop shown by Fig.

5 embodies a stationary end 14, consisting of an imperforate closure,having the upper and lower ends let into grooves 15, formed in the inneredges of the hinge-strips 6 and secured by nails or other analogousfastenings. In this construction the ends are folded with the remainingparts of the body and also set up for use with the latter, the bottombeing detachable as well as the top or cover.

The main advantage in the improved crate or coop is that all the partsare of simple formation and are secured by a simple and inexpensivemeans. By illustrating removable and stationary ends the advantages andconvenience of both air tight or ventilating means is contemplated andindicate that the crate or coop can be made with either style of ends,as desired. The arrangenient of thc panels and the manner of securingthe same insures a positive retention thereof in position and the crateor coop which would. be otherwise frail in structure is materiallystrengthened. When the crate orcoop is set up and closed for transortati on or shipment, an irregular method 0 gaining access to thecontents of the crateas, for instance, cutting the pivot or hingefastenings 7 in two-- would not permit any one so inclined to arrive atthe result sought, as the bottom, top or cover, ends, and the securingstrips or slats 5 would hold the parts of the crate or box together withsufficient strength for transportation purposes.

Modifications in the proportions, dimensions, and minor details may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A crate orcoop of the class set forth having side panels with end posts, upper andlower rails to which said panels are secured, the posts being of lesslength than the distance between the rails, pivot means inserted throughthe opposite extremities of the rails and extended partially into theposts, hingestrips terminally interposed between the rails and the postends and. also having the pivot means passing therethrough, ends for thecrate or coop, and a removable bottom and top.

2. A crate or coop of the class set forth having side panels with end.posts, upper and lower rails to which the panels are secured, thedistance between the opposite sides of the rails being greater than thelength of the posts, hinge-strips terminally interposed between the endsof the rails and the posts, pivot devices extending through the ends ofthe rails and hinge-strips and partially proj ecting through the lengthof the posts, end closures held against the hinge strips and posts, aremovable bottom, and a detachable top or cover.

3. In a crate or coop of the class set forth, a body having side panelswith end posts, upper and lower rails to which the panels are secured,the posts being of less length than the distance between the rails, andhinge-strips terminally interposed between the rails and the post ends,pivot means passing partially through the rails, hinge-strlps, andposts, a removable bottom, and a detachable cover or top havingcross-cleats on the under side thereof projecting beyond one side forremovable insertion under one of the upper rails, the oppositeextremities of the bottom and detachable cover or top being supported onthe hinge-strips between the posts.

4. In a crate or coop of the class set forth,

- closures held within the body of the crate and maintained in positionby the bottom and top or cover. i

5. In a crate or coop of the class set forth, the combination of afoldable body involving upper and lower rails, end posts, andhingestrips terminally interposed between the ends of the rails andposts, means for pivotally connecting the ends of the rails,hingestrips, and osts, a removable bottom of slightly less ength thanthe interior of the body removable end closures against the lower ortionof which the opposite extremities of the bottom have contact, and adetachable top or cover having the opposite extremities held on theupper hinge-strips and also provided with means for engagmg the upperportions of the removable end closures. 6. In a crate or coop of theclass set forth, a collapsible body involving end posts, upper and lowerrails, and hinge-strips interposed between the ends of the rails ,andthe posts, means for pivotally connecting the ends of the rails,hinge-strips and posts, a removable bottom, removable end closuresagainst the lower portion of which the said bottom has bearing, and adetachable top or cover having cross-cleats projecting therefrom at oneside to engage the under portion of one of the upper rails, and alsoprovided with means for contacting with the upper portions of the endclosures, the opposite extremities of the top or cover being held on theupper hinge-strips between the upper rails. 5

7. In a crate, the combination of sides and ends having intersectingmembers including upper and lower hinge-strips which are respectivelylocated below the upper and lower portions of the crate, pivot devicesextending through portions of said members and inserted in reverseposition, said pivot members projecting only partially through thevertical extent of the corners of the body, a removable bottom, and aremovable top terminally engaging the upper hinge-strips.

. 8. In a crate or coop of the class set forth, the combination of. sidepanels having end posts and vertical securing-strips projected above andbelow the same,upper and lower rails to which the securing-strips areattached, the distance between the opposing sides of the rails beinggreater than the length of the posts, hinge-strips terminally interposedbetween the rails and posts, pivot devices extending through the rails.and hinge-strips and projecting partially into ,the posts, endclosures, a removable bottom, and a detachable top or cover.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

I ELLSWORTH SPERLING.

Witnesses TpH; SHANNON, W. K. EcKMAN.

